Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Partrve tl b JOSEPH C LINCOLN, AeUW ?I mC*p'n EH" ^ Copyright. 190J OOOOOOOOO (Continued.) CHAPTER VII. BClHB Thomas Poane was at her J dock Id New York, and Brad Km hr/, now twenty year* old and I a "sure enough" second mate, was on her deck witching the foremast hands clearing up the cos I dust that bc sjrtmed everything. The schooner had carried coal for orer a yssr now, snd her Is teat occupation had not improved her sppesrance. Hho was old enough be? ilud patched and mended enough, to turn her Into s collier seemed a humiliation. Captain Tltcomb had felt It keenly, snd his disgust was out awoken. "Well, by crlmustee!" he had ejacu wheu his tlatfooted ret>elllou been smothered by another raise tar salary. "I used to dream about onmnisudin' a Australian clipper some en\y or 'notber, but I never dreamed that I'd corns to be skipper of u coal and a secondhand, rusted out il hod st that. Blessed If It ain't amongh to make the old man?dad, I anas*-turn over In his grave! Come am. Brad. Let's go to the ehester. 1 et to forglt It" captain had soother project In ana mind, a sort of secret hobby he Mated st every little while, but never These hints usually followed a iroiarly disagreeable trip or when rickety Thomas Doans behaved more like a cantankerous old mahl was her wont. Then, when hs Bradley were alons, the captain wake from s day dream to say: ??Bind, I git more and more sick of mm hein' somebody else's strand boy minute. Boms of these days I'm to take a whack st some thin' if. and 1 hive a notion what ^sertn bo too. 1 guess likely I may ask jam to come la with me. I b'llevs if ? at sjood notJoo. ToEl josj 'bout It asms eaaw H Bai ho never did. Bradley had frown tall and broad smarter his tonn of cruising. Ho sand learned self reUance, and his md t roastsrful ring. When ho to Orb am nowadays the OStsaa took speclsl delight In bav IJsa ? escort them to church, and Tompy's 070s during the sermon oftener fixed upon him than upon ? Inistsr. The money that hs sent 1 sisters amounted to something and he had an account la the K aa ho stood by the rail, with his hs his pockets, bo hoard a step sen His wharf behind him and turned to oss Captain Tltcomb jump from ths emrtagV'toce. catch the shroud and aboard. The captain's usually aatnred face had s scowl on It ad ho was plainly not happy. Bradley tone bed bis cap. "How ars Mags going op st the office 7" he ?Phxmb to the devil," eras the short Then, glancing up at the young 's face and looking hurriedly sway ate. ho added: "Come aft I want talk to you " seated In the dimry cabin, the cap took a cigar from bis pocket, bit the end with s Jork snd smoked In st puffs. Bradley wsltsd for 1dm k. The sklpf?r*s ill humor and discontent had come upon him afternoon of the dsy the Thomas reached port and had grown ty worse. Bach morning Csp Titcomb had spent st the office Williams Bros., snd when hs r to the schoons I he had done hot smoke, stowl snd pace the The second uale "was"worried, at he asksd no questions ??Bred." said the captain, looking st ss shabby carpet on the csblti floor, goln' to have s new mate." ley was surprised. "It Mr. Bai golng to leave?" he asked. The fir? t mats bad been as much s of the Thomss 1 >oane as ber miiln 've given him the Arrow, the schooner. He's goln' to run her.* -Whj. why. Cap'n Earn. I thoc jht he was promised to yon." *t thought so, too, but I missed ny nln', It seems. Williams he ain't ff tho man bis brother wat-he me to wait till the other one, too aw master, Is off lbs wsya. Then 1 ss have her if I wnut her." ??But she won't be ready for tlx maths, though 1 giess from was I I air she'll be worth waiting lor. 'II have ths old I inane then?" Captain Tltcomb crossed his legs, but t 1 newer. It stead be ssked: how would you liks to sail un Baliey? You snd him got 'long rs.e. 1 wouldn't wonder If 1 git you the second mate's berth the Arrow. She's bran new aud n, not like this hencoop." Aud be a stateroom door with smpbs av Bradley did not besltate. "I guess f you ?in stand the beucoop I can," be decisively. I'd rstbsr wslt with on. thank yon." **| doc't know's you'd better. Look * And for the first time the cap ralted his eyss. "You know I lo't try to Influence you If 'twan't ehe your own good. I honestly thiuk 'twould tie better for you If you sailed em the Arrow.'' ?Bo* whyr ??Oh. becsuss! Bailey's a good man omd aa Al sailor." "He laa't bslf the ssllor you are nor eWif ths man tlthsr." leTide 5. by A. S. Barnes t* Co. ?>??*>**?*?*>?*? "Much obliged. Til stand for the sailor part, but I ain't so sure about the rest. Brad, sometimes I wish I hadn't stuck so close to 'owners' or? ders' and had took a few observations on my own hook. Maybe then? But It's hard for an old dog to learn new tricks. I s'pose I'm a fool to worry. Money's 'bout all there Is in this world, ain't itr "A good many folks seems to think it Is." "And other folks don't think any the less of 'em for it Well, I've laid my course, and I'll stick to It till all's blue. Brad, will yon, as a favor to me, chuck op your berth here and ship 'board the Arrow?" "Cap'n Em, if you want me to quit this packet you'll have to heave me overboard; that's all!" The skipper looked at the clear eyes and the firm jaw of the young six footer opposite. "That goes, does it?" he asked. "That goes. Cap'n Es, you've been the best friend I've ever had, except the old maids and?maybe one more. I don't want you to think I'm not am? bitious, because I am. I'm just as anxious to make something of myself as you can be to have me, but I've made up my mind, and, for the pres? ent, anyway, while yon sail a vessel I sail with you?unless yon really order me to quit" The older man hesitated. "Well," he said after two or three puffs at the cigar, "I ought to order It p'r'aps, but I'll be hanged if I can. Brad Nicker son, I think as much of yon as I would of s son, snd your good opinion Is wuth?I don't b'lleve you know how much lfs wuth to me. But? Shake hands, will yonT" Puss led and troubled, Bradley ex? tended his hand, and the captain clasped it firmly in hit own. For a moment It seemed that he was about to say something more, bnt he did not Giving the second mate's hand ft squseae, he dropped It end settled back in his chair, smoking and appar? ently thinking hard. As he thought his line tightened, and the scowl settled more firmly between his brows. Five minutes of silence, end then the skip? per threw the half finished cigar into a corner snd rose to bis feet His tone was sharp, snd there was no trace of the feeling so recently manifested. "We sail tomorrer morn In'," he said, stepping to the companion ladder. "The new first mateMl be here tonight. His nemo's Burke." IBreaToy did not more. "Just a min? ute, Cap'n Es," he faltered. "You?you ?I know lfs none of my business, but? Weil, you understand, I guess. You're In trouble?anybody can see that. Won't you let me help you out?" The captain paused with his foot on the ladder. "My troubles are my own." he answered, without looking "Brad, we're yotn' to have a new mate." bsck. "You be thankful you ain't got any. And here!" the tone was almost savage. "You take my advice and obey orders, snd don't ask questions." Hs went on deck immediately and, after a moment Bradley followed him. The rebuff was so unexpected and so undeserved, the circumstances con? sidered, that It hurt the young man keenly. His pride was touched, and be made up his mind that Captain Tit comb should have no further cause for complaint so far as Interference by his second officer was concerned. As for ths captain, he kept to himself and said little to any one during the afternoon. The new first mate came on board that evening. He was a thick set, heavy man* who talked a great deal, swore profusely and laughed loudly nt his own Jokes. He seemed to kuow Ids business und, as the captain would have said, "caught bold" ut once. They salted the next morning, and, by the time the tug left them. Bradley fancied that he noticed a difference In the state of sffalrs aboard the schooner. The usual rigid discipline seemed to be lacking. There was no rebellion or sign of mutiny, but merely a general sblftlessuess that Mr. Burke did not seem to notice. Strange to say, Captain Tltcomt: did not notice It either, or. If he did, said nothing. Bradley did not Interfere. He had not forgotten the advice to "obey orders and ask no questions." There wss s good wind and a smooth see, snd the captain drove the Thomas Doene for all she was worth. By the afternoon of ttie TcT.ow'iig flat They were In Vineyard sound. Bradley's suspicious had by this time come t3 be almost certainties. For two or three sailors to show signs of drunkenness on the first iuornlng out of port was nothing strauge, but to have those symptoms more pronounced the even? ing of the second day was proof that there were bottles In the fo'cnstle. But Captain Titcomb, usually the first to scent the presence of these abomina? tions and to punish their owners, now, apparently, was unaware of their pres? ence. And the first mate, too, cither did not see or did not care. Bradley was standing by the fo'castle Just at dusk that evening when a sailor bumped violently into him in passing. The second mate spoke sharply to the offender, and the answer he received was impudent and surly. "Here you," exclaimed Bradley, seiz lug the man by the shoulder and whirl? ing him violently around, "do you know who you're talking to? Speak to me again like that, aud I'll break you in two." The man?he was a new hand?mum? bled a reply to the effect that he "hadn't meant to say nothin'." "Well, don't say it again. Stand up. You're drunk. Now, where did you get your liquor?" "Ain't got none, sir." 1 "You're a liar. Stand up or you'll lie down for a good while. Anybody with a nose could smell rum if you passed n mile to wind'ard. Where did you get it?" The sailor began a further protesta? tion, but Bradley choked it off and shook him savagely. The first mate, hearing the scuffle, came hurrying up. "What's the row, Mr. Nlckerson?" he asked. "This man's drunk, and I want to know where the rum came from." Mr. Burke scowled fiercely. "Look here," he shouted, "is that so? Are you drunkr "No, sir." "You're mighty close to it Why"? and here the first mate swore steadily for a full minute. "Do you know what I'd do to a man thai brought rum aboard a vessel of mine? I'd use his blankety-blanked hide for a spare tops'1 and feed the rest of his carcass to the dogfish. Qit out of here, and re? member I'm watchln' you sharp." He gave the fellow a kick that sent him flying, and, turning to Bradley, said in a confidential whisper: "Ain't it queer how a shore drunk* 11 stick to a man? I've seen 'em come aboard so full that they stayed so for a week afterward."' "I think they've got the liquor dowu for'ard here." "1 guess not If I thought so, I'd kill the whole"?half dosen descriptive ad? jectives?"lot They can't play with me, blank, blank 'em!" But In spite of Mr. Burke's fierce? ness Bradley wasn't satisfied. He be? lieved that if the first mate had let him alone he would have found the \ liquor. However, he thought it nei? ther the skipper nor Mr. Burke cared It was none of his business. But be was uneasy nevertheless. By 0 o'clock the signs of drunken noes were so plain that even the first mate had to admit the fact Only a very few of the men were strictly so? ber. One of these was the big Swede, Bwensen. Oddly enough, this man had stuck to Captain Titcomb's schooner every voyage since one trip on which the skipper had knocked the fight out of him. The novelty of a good sound thrashing was, apparently, just what the giant had needed, and for the man who had "licked" him he entertained tremendous respect and almost love. "Cap'n Ez, he knock the tar out of me," said Swensen. "He stand no fool in'. He's a man. Hey?" He liked Bradley, too, and had pre? sented the latter with a miniature mod? el of n three masted schooner in a bottle, beautifully done and such "put? tering" work that It was a wonder how bis big, clumsy fingers could have made it But though Swensen aud the Portu? guese cook aud one or two more were sober, the rest of the crew were not Mr. Burke coutessed us much to Brad? ley. "They've got rum with 'em, all right/' he whispered. "But we'll be to Boston tomorrer, uud there ain't no use starllu' u row till duyligut Then some of these smart Alecs '11 find out who's who In a hurry or my fist don't weigh what it used to. Better not say nothlu' to the skipper," he added. "No use to worry him." It was odd advice from a mate, but, aa Bradley could see, to his astonish? ment, there wag no need of telling Cap? tain Titcomb. It was plaiu enough that tne latter kuew his crew's condi? tion and deliberately Ignored it. Men stumbled past him, and he looked the other way. Simple orders were bun? gled, and he did not reprove. Only once that evening did hit wrath blaze out In the old manner. A sailor was ordered by him to do Mittet hing and. instead of the dutiful "Aye, aye, sir," he replied with a muttered curse. I The next Instant Captain Ezra's fist was between his ej'es, and he foil, to bo Jerked to his feet again and back to the rail with the skipper's hand twisted in his shirt collar. I "Ifang you!" said the captain be? tween his teeth. "I'll?I swear I'll"? Mr. Burke came running and whis? pered eagerly In his commander's ear. i Captain Titcomb's arm itralghtenod, j and the sailor was thrown across the ! deck. "Go for'ard," roared the skipper, "and If yog want to live you keep out of my sight! I can't help It, Burke. I've got some self respect left ylt." That was all. and Bradley wondered. Under such olrcuDistances accidents were bound to occur. But the one that did occur was serious. Bradley was below when it happened, Hi usually took the first watch, but tonight Cap? tain Titcomb said he would take It, and Mr. Burke would stay up with him for awhile. So the second mate turn? ed In. Ho was awakened by a racket on deck and thl sound of voices and footsteps on the companion ladder. Opening his stateroom door, he saw four men descending the ladder, car? rying a fifth In their arms. "What's the matter?" asked Bradley. "Who's hurt?" "It's the skipper," replied one of the men In a frighteued voice. "He fell and hurt his head. He"? Brad'ey sprang Into the cabin and saw Captain Titcomb unconscious and with the blood running from an ugly cut on his forehead. "For God's sake"? he began, but was Interrupted by Burke, who, with a very white face, was descending the ladder. "Hush np!" commanded the first mate. "Don't make n row. 'Taitft nothin* serious, I guess. Jest cussed foolishness. Put him ou the locker there, you." This Is what had happened: The schooner was passing out of the sound, and, as the night was black and hazy, they were using the lead frequently. The Thomas Doane had a high after deck, and to reach the waist one must descend a five foot ladder. A sailor, not too sober, had thrown the lead and In passing aft with the llpe had fouled It at the lad? der. Captain Titcomb, losing his tem? per at the man's clumsiness, had run toward him, tripped In the line and pitched head first over the fellow's shoulder to the main deck. The sail? or's body had broken the fall some? what, and the skull was not fractured, but it was bad enough. The cook, who had helped bring the captain into the cabin, lingered after the first mate had gone. Bradley ques? tioned him about the accident. "Thorun, he done it," said the cook. "The line, she git mess up by the"? "He was drunk," broke In Bradley. "He's been drunk all the afternoon. Isn't that so?" The cook looked hastily at the lad? der, then at the captain. Then, nod? ding emphatically, he whispered: "Ya-as, sir. They most all drunk. I never seen so much drink on schooner ?not on Cap'n Titcomb's schooner, anyway, and I Rail with him for five year." I But Bradley would not go to bed. He was worried about the captain and even more worried about the schooner. He did not like Mr. Burke, and he was by no means sure?Judging by what be had seen?that the mate knew how to handle a crew. About 2 o'clock he de? cided to go on deck. Bradley leaned on the rail and look? ed over the water toward where the shore should be. As he stood there the base blew aside for a moment, and he saw not more than two miles away and ahead of the schooner the twinkle of a light Then It disappeared again. He walked aft One of the new hands was at the wheel, and there was a dis? tinct smell of rum In the vicinity. "Who gave you that course?" "Mr. Burke, sir." Burke was standing by the fore shrouds, looking over the Bide. He started when Bradley touched his arm. "Excuse me, Mr. Burke," said the second mate. "Where are we?" "Turned the Rip an hour or so ago." Burke's tone was distinctly unpleas? ant. "What are you doin* here?" "I couldn't sleep, so I came on deck a minute. Isn't she pretty close in? I ! thought I saw the Skaklt light just now." * "Saw nothin'! Skakit light's away off yonder. Water enough here to float a Cunarder. What's the matter with 1 you? 'Frald I ain't on to my Job? i When I want your help I'll ask for It I've sailed these waters when you was a kid." "Well, T didn't mean to"? "Then shut up! You go below and 'tend to the skipper." Bradley bit his lip and turned away. If Burke was right, he had no busi? ness to Interfere; if he wasn't right the Thomas Doane was shaving the shoals altogether too close. He went below, found Captain Titcomb sleep? ing quietly and a little later came on deck again to lean on the rail amid? ships and once more stare at the.fog? gy darkness. A big figure loomed close beside him. It was Swensen, and he obvious? ly wanted to speak. "Well, Swensen," said Bradley, "what is it?" I The Swede leaned forward and, shad? ing his mouth with his hand, whis? pered hoarsely: "Mr. Ncekerson, you know 'bout the fust mate? He all ' right? What?" I Bradley had been brought up to dls courage familiarity with men before ; the mast j "What are you talking about?" he asked sharply. I "Nawthln' sir. Only he know this ; course? Ah see Skaklt light twice yust now and only a mile 'n half off. That I not 'nougb?not here" i "Are you sure you saw it?" "Yas, sir." Bradley turned away. He hated to risk another snub from the mate, and he fully realized the dauger of interfer? ing with a superior officer, but Captain Titcomb was not in command, aud here was Swensen's testimony to back bis own that the schooner was running too close to the dangerous Cape Cod j benches. The course she was on was i taking her still closer in, and the fog 1 was growing thicker. This time Burke was standing by the man at the wheel. He swore when the second mate approached and snarl? ed, "Well, what's the matter now?" "Mr. Burke, ure you sure that wasn't the Skaklt light I saw? Swensen says he's seen It twice and not more than a mile and a half away. If that's so, we are running into shoal water. Hadn't I better try soundings?" In a blast of profanity Burke con? signed both Bradley and Swensen to the lowest level In the brimstone fu? ture. Tro ng onnTiifursvl Life without liberty Is joyless, but life without Joy may bo great. The greatness of life is sacrifice.?Outdo. MAIL OKI) I K HOUSE VS. HOME: MERCHANT. Organization the Country Mori-hunt's Rest Defense. A large mall order houae has re? ported to stockholders that its sabs during the six months ending De? cember 31? last, amounted to almost twenty-two million dollars, on which it made a net profit slightly exceed? ing two million three hundred thou? sand dollars. The net profit, then? all in cash?amounted to a little more than ten per cent of the sales. It seems to have amounted to a little more than twenty per cent on the concern's capital, or at the rate of forty per cent a year. The country merchant thinks the business of the mail-order house is done at his expense. Probably that view is not wholly sound. Probably new facilities for trading tend to create trade. Undoubtedly, however, the country merchant does find that considerable business, which would otherwise come to him, now goes to the mail-order house, and the loss concerns him all the more because that Is a strictly cash business. The city house still permits him to do the credit business with all the good will in the world. The margin of profit mentioned above is a very good one. A net re sldum, in cash, of ten per cent of gross sales would probably be consid? ered stisfactory by most retailers. Organization is, in the opinion of many, the country merchant's best defense against the mail-order house There is already sufficient organiza? tion to exert, for example, effective opposition to a comprehensive par? cels post. But that, after all, Is mere? ly obstructive. Organization for co? operative buying looks more promis? ing.?Saturday Evening Post. The Shadow of Coming Events. "You look so pale and thin. What's got you?" "Work. From morning to night and only a one-hour rest." "How long have you been at It?" "I begin tomorrow."?Success Mag? azine. If everybody knew when he was well off, this would be a better edu? cated world. Friend?What?you pawned your overcoat to get convas for your paint? ing? Artist?Yes. Friend?And how much did you get for the picture. Ar? tist?Nearly enough to get my over? coat out.?Cleveland Leader. De Young?I hear you and your young wife are on the outs. Oldgold ?Yes. De Young?Haven't you made any advances toward a reconciliation? Oldgold?Oh! yes; I've made an ad? vance of several thousand dollars.? Chicago News. * Her Cowviion. "Father, I wish I knew why they laughed at my corrected sentence In English class today," exclaimed a high school girl recently. Her father look? ed up from his evening paper and asked what the sentence WmM. "Well, Miss West gave each of us a sentence to correct, and mine was, 'I went to the tonsorial parlors to get a hair cut.' " "And how did you correct it?" ask? ed the father. 'Why, I corrected it the only way you cold correct it, of course, and Miss West just doubled up laughing when she read it, and then she read it aloud, and every one in the class shouted. They didn't know it was my sentence, hut I did." "Eut what did you write?" "Why, father! What would any one write? I wrote, I went to the tonsorial parlors to get my tonsils cut,' of course!"?Youth's Compan l ion. Always **Just Going To." He meant to insure his house, but it burnt before he got around to it. He was just going to pay a note when it went to protest. He was just going to help a neigh? bor when he died. He was just going to send some ffowsrs to a sick friend when it prov j ed to late. He was just going to reduce h;?* dept when his creditors "shut down" on him. He was just going to stop drinking and dissipating, when his health be? came wrecked. He was just going to provide pro? per protection for his wife and family { when his fortune was swept away from him. He was just go ng to introduce a better system into his business when it went to smash. He was just going to call on a cus? tomer to close a deal when he found his competitor had preceded him and secured his order. He was just going to quit work a while and take a vacation when ner? vous prostration came. He was just going to repair his side? walk when a neighbor fell on It and broke his leg. He was just ng to provide his wife with more lulp when she took to her bed and required a nurse, a doctor and a maid.?Success Maga? zine. The kaleidoscopic career of the 20th century heart makes it advisable to get over a love affair as quickly and gracefully as possible; but it must be confessed that some men 'get over it" more quickly, more gracefully and more often than is necessary.?From "Reflections of a Bachelor Girl" in the New York World. i Is* i Jtim -The Daily Item Read by nearly all the city's entire population (6 days out of every week) is one of the best adver? tising mediums in the State.;; Place Your Ad and be Convinced. THE WATCHMAN AND SOUTHRON? The best Semi-Weekly County newspaper in the State. It reach? es the buying class among the farmers of Sumter, ?Lee i and Clarendon counties, and is a "SURE WINNER." Our Ads are Attractive and Bring Results.